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Own the genesis of Grant Morrison\'s legendary counterculture masterpiece in UNOPENED, pristine condition. This is the ORIGINAL 1996 first printing trade paperback of The Invisibles Volume 1: Say You Want a Revolution—nearly 30 years old and never read. A rare find for serious collectors.
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo
Format: Trade Paperback (TPB), First Printing
Publication Year: 1996
ISBN: 978-1563892677
Pages: 208 pages
Condition: BRAND NEW, UNOPENED, UNREAD
Collects: The Invisibles (1994-1996 1st Series) #1-8
Original Cover Price: $19.95
What Makes This Edition Special:This is the ORIGINAL 1996 first printing—the very first collected edition of what would become one of the most influential comic series ever published. Released nearly 30 years ago when Grant Morrison was revolutionizing Vertigo, this represents the birth of a cultural phenomenon. Unlike later reprints or digital editions, this is the authentic artifact from the series\' groundbreaking debut.
About The Invisibles:The Invisibles is widely considered Grant Morrison\'s magnum opus—a reality-bending, mind-expanding odyssey through time, conspiracy, magic, and revolution. Morrison has stated that creating this series was a \"hypersigil\" (a magical spell in story form) designed to change reality itself, and that working on it fundamentally transformed them as a person.
The series influenced countless creators and works, including The Matrix (the Wachowskis drew heavy inspiration), and made Rolling Stone magazine\'s list of \"The 50 Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novels.\"
Volume 1: Say You Want a Revolution - Synopsis:Meet Dane McGowan, an angry Liverpool teenager who burns down his school and is recruited by King Mob into a secret society called the Invisibles—anarchist freedom fighters battling interdimensional alien gods called the Archons of the Outer Church who have enslaved humanity without their knowledge.
What\'s Inside:
- \"Down and Out in Heaven and Hell\" - Dane\'s brutal initiation into the Invisibles
- \"Arcadia\" - Time travel to the French Revolution to recruit the Marquis de Sade
- Introduction to iconic characters: King Mob, Lord Fanny, Ragged Robin, Boy, and Jack Frost (Dane\'s codename)
- Stunning artwork by Steve Yeowell, Jill Thompson, and Dennis Cramer
Key Story Elements:
- Dane\'s encounter with Tom O\'Bedlam, the mystical homeless mentor
- Alien abduction experiences and dimensional travel
- John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe cameo (pre-Beatles fame)
- Lord Byron and Percy Shelley as historical Invisibles
- The Harmony House authoritarian nightmare
- Introduction to the Outer Church conspiracy
Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact:
- Rolling Stone: Named to \"50 Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novels\"
- Goodreads: 4.0/5 stars—\"Life-changing,\" \"A masterpiece of sequential art\"
- Cultural Influence: Inspired The Matrix, influenced Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance/Umbrella Academy), Jonathan Hickman (House of X/Powers of X)
- Morrison on the series: \"My own comic book series The Invisibles was a six-year long sigil in the form of an occult adventure story which consumed and recreated my life during the period of its composition and execution.\"
Why This Unopened Edition Is Collectible:
- Original 1996 printing (28+ years old, increasingly rare in unopened condition)
- UNOPENED/UNREAD (museum-quality preservation)
- First Volume (the foundation of the entire saga)
- Vertigo golden age (peak 1990s experimental era)
- Grant Morrison\'s masterwork (most personal, ambitious series)
- Cultural artifact (influenced entire generation of creators)
- Investment potential (unopened first printings appreciate over time)
- Complete story arc (perfect entry point to the series)
For Mature Readers Only:The Invisibles contains extreme violence, sexual content, drug use, blasphemy, occult practices, and philosophically challenging themes that pushed the boundaries of what mainstream comics could be. This is NOT traditional superhero fare—it\'s radical, subversive, and earned Vertigo\'s reputation for adult-oriented content.
Perfect For:
- Grant Morrison completionists (All-Star Superman, Doom Patrol, Batman, Final Crisis fans)
- Vertigo collectors (Sandman, Preacher, Hellblazer enthusiasts)
- Chaos magic practitioners and occult students
- Fans of The Matrix, Fight Club, Mr. Robot (similar themes)
- Philosophy and counterculture enthusiasts
- Investment collectors (unopened 1990s Vertigo TPBs)
- Anyone seeking genuinely challenging, consciousness-expanding comics
Unopened Condition Guarantee:This book has NEVER been opened or read. Still in original condition as it left the publisher in 1996. Perfect for collectors who demand pristine preservation or those viewing this as an appreciating investment. If you want to read the series, buy used copies or the Omnibus—this unopened volume is for serious collectors only.
Historical Context:1996 was the height of Vertigo\'s experimental era. The Invisibles launched in 1994 and this first collected edition represented DC\'s bet on Morrison\'s radical vision. The series would run until 2000, completing Morrison\'s ambitious six-year \"hypersigil\" project. This Volume 1 is where it all began—the recruitment of Jack Frost, the battle against the Outer Church, and the beginning of one of comics\' most ambitious narratives.
Authenticity:This is the genuine 1996 Vertigo first printing, not a reprint or later edition. ISBN 1-56389-267-7 confirms authenticity. Original $19.95 cover price visible.
Ships with extreme care in protective packaging with bubble wrap and cardboard reinforcement. This is a valuable, unopened collectible that will be treated with the respect it deserves during transit.
Note: Due to unopened condition, interior pages cannot be photographed, but this is the standard 1996 Vertigo TPB release. ISBN visible for authentication.
Don\'t miss this rare opportunity to own an unopened piece of comic book history. The Invisibles Volume 1 in unopened condition from 1996 is increasingly scarce. This is your chance to acquire a pristine artifact from Grant Morrison\'s most transformative work—the series that aimed to change reality itself.
